“Common duckweed is native to Alaska and much of the United States and world. It is a little green plant that floats on the surface of ponds entirely covering them in many instances. Two and a half acres of area covered in duckweed can produce 1.4 million pounds of dry duckweed annually- fifty times what one could get from corn in the same area (one hectare).
https://phys.org/news/2019-08-duckweed-world.html
Duckweed protein has all of the amino acids a human body needs. Some believe it could feed the world. In the United States it is generally treated as a weed and eradicated. It is probable though, that duckweed will be grown underground in ponds on Mars in order to produce protein for those spending the remainder of their lives as troglodytes on a foreign planet. Here are a few duckweed facts from Gemini…
Gemini–
Common duckweed (Lemna minor) is one of the most protein-dense plants on Earth, but whether it is the “most” protein-rich depends on how you measure it (by dry weight vs. cultivation yield) and which other organisms you include.
1. Protein Density (Dry Weight)
When dried, duckweed is exceptionally high in protein, often surpassing common land-based crops:
- Duckweed: Contains 25% to 45% protein by dry mass, depending on growing conditions and nitrogen availability.
- Soybeans: Typically contain about 36% to 40% protein. Duckweed can equal or exceed this level.
- Comparison to Microalgae: While duckweed is more protein-rich than almost any leafy green or legume, it is surpassed by some microalgae. For example, Spirulina and Chlorella can contain 50% to 70% protein by dry weight.
2. Protein Yield (Per Acre)
Duckweed is often cited as the most “efficient” protein producer because of its rapid growth rate (it can double its mass in 48–72 hours).
- Yield Comparison: One hectare of duckweed can produce 10 to 18 tonnes of protein per year.
- Soy Comparison: In contrast, soybeans produce only 0.6 to 1.2 tonnes of protein per hectare per year. This makes duckweed roughly 5 to 10 times more productive than soy per unit of area.
3. Protein Quality
Duckweed is a “complete protein,” meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids required by humans.
- Amino Acid Profile: Its profile is comparable to animal proteins like eggs or dairy.
- RuBisCO: About 40–50% of the protein in duckweed is RuBisCO, a highly digestible and non-allergenic protein.
Summary of Edible Plant Protein Content (Dry Weight)
| Plant/Organism | Average Protein Content (Dry Weight) |
|---|---|
| Spirulina (Microalgae) | 50% – 70% |
| Duckweed | 25% – 45% |
| Soybeans | 36% – 40% |
| Lupini Beans | ~36% – 40% |
| Peas/Lentils | 20% – 30% |
Verdict: Duckweed is likely the most protein-dense flowering plant (angiosperm) by dry weight and yield, though certain non-flowering microalgae like Spirulina have a higher percentage of protein per gram.
From 2.47 acres (1 hectare) of duckweed growth annually, one can potentially produce between 10 to 18 tonnes (22,000 to 40,000 pounds) of protein per year under optimal conditions.
Production Breakdown
- Total Biomass Yield: Research indicates that a 2.47-acre area can yield up to 30-32 tonnes of dried biomass annually. In certain highly optimized vertical farming systems, Rutgers University researchers have produced as much as 1.4 million pounds (over 635 tonnes) of dried plant matter.
- Protein Content: Duckweed’s protein content typically ranges from 20% to over 40% of its dry weight, depending on the species and cultivation conditions.
- Protein Yield:
- Typical estimates for protein production are 10-18 tonnes per hectare per year.
- One study reported achieving a protein yield of approximately 2.6 to 3.3 tonnes/ha/year even in a temperate climate, which still exceeds typical soybean production.
- In general, duckweed protein yields are significantly higher than conventional crops like soybeans or corn, potentially 5 to 10 times higher.
Key Factors Affecting Yield
The actual amount of protein produced depends heavily on several factors:
- Species: Different duckweed species (e.g., Wolffia, Lemna, Spirodela) have different protein potentials and growth rates.
- Cultivation Conditions: Optimal nutrient concentration (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), light intensity, and temperature are crucial for maximizing both biomass and protein content.
- Harvesting Frequency: Regular, judicious harvesting is needed to maintain an optimum plant density and growth rate.
Overall, duckweed is a highly efficient and sustainable source of protein, offering a significant potential yield per acre compared to traditional agriculture.
Duckweed, specifically the tiny Wolffia species known as Asian watermeal, has been a traditional food source for centuries in several Southeast Asian countries.
Primary Consuming Countries
- Thailand: Known locally as khai-nam (water eggs) or pham, it is commonly sold in local food markets.
- Laos: It is a traditional staple vegetable in various regions.
- Myanmar (Burma): It is historically harvested and consumed as part of the regular diet.
- Israel: While not a traditional consumer, Israel has recently become a leader in cultivating duckweed for human consumption, marketing it as “green caviar” or “water lentils”.
Culinary Preparation
Duckweed has a mild, nutty flavor similar to sweet cabbage, spinach, or watercress. It is prepared in the following ways:
- Soups and Curries: Fresh duckweed is most commonly added to savory liquid dishes, where it provides a thick, nutrient-dense texture.
- Omelettes: It is often mixed directly into beaten eggs before frying, a popular preparation method in Thailand.
- Salads: It can be eaten raw in salads or as a garnish.
- Traditional Dishes: It is used in specialty Southeast Asian dishes like Gaeng Khai-Nam (duckweed curry).
- Modern Applications: In Western and Israeli markets, it is processed into powders for smoothies, used as a topping for sandwiches, or served as a fresh “caviar” substitute in fine dining.
Note on Safety: Wild duckweed must be harvested from clean, sanitary water sources because it can absorb heavy metals and pollutants from its environment. “
common duckweed- image credit U.S. Gov
Areas where common duckweed grows in the U.S.A. -Image credit U.S. Gov
From ChatGPT-
“Duckweed and the Limits of Resilience in a Nuclear World
Duckweed is often described as one of humanity’s most promising answers to hunger. It grows extraordinarily fast, requires minimal land, can be cultivated in controlled environments, and produces high-quality protein at a fraction of the resource cost of conventional agriculture. If any plant appears capable of feeding a stressed world, duckweed is it.
Yet even duckweed would fail in a nuclear winter.
A large-scale nuclear war—even one limited to Europe and Russia, involving roughly 100–150 nuclear detonations over cities and industrial areas—would inject massive amounts of black carbon soot into the upper atmosphere. This soot would block sunlight, cool the planet, and disrupt precipitation patterns for years. Duckweed, despite its efficiency, still depends on photosynthetically active light, stable temperatures, and managed water chemistry. A sustained reduction in sunlight alone would sharply reduce growth rates; temperature volatility would further destabilize cultivation, even in greenhouse or indoor systems strained by energy shortages.
More importantly, duckweed is not merely a biological solution—it is a civilizational one. Harvesting, drying, processing, and distributing duckweed protein depend on electricity, functioning supply chains, chemical inputs, transportation networks, and political stability. Nuclear war would fracture energy grids, destroy infrastructure, and collapse international trade long before the full climatic effects unfolded. Food that can theoretically be grown but cannot be processed or transported does not feed people.
This is where casualty estimates become unavoidable. Peer-reviewed climate-agriculture models indicate that a regional nuclear war involving on the order of 100 warheads could lead to hundreds of millions of deaths globally from starvation within one to two years, due to abrupt declines in food production and distribution. As the number of detonations rises toward 150—especially if urban firestorms are involved—some scenarios project famine deaths approaching or exceeding one to two billion people worldwide. These deaths would occur predominantly far from the war zone, in regions dependent on global grain markets and thin food reserves.
The key lesson is not that duckweed fails as a concept, but that no food technology can outrun planetary physics. Nuclear winter does not selectively damage inefficient systems; it collapses the foundational conditions—sunlight, temperature stability, energy, logistics—on which all food systems depend. Even the fastest-growing plant on Earth cannot compensate for a darkened sky and a broken world.
Duckweed shows how close humanity is to solving hunger.
Nuclear war shows how easily that solution—and every other—can be erased.”
Garrison Gibson: books and blog 
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